High-Profile Arrests Surge Under New Home Minister's Directive

Kathmandu. Since Sudhan Gurung took charge of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Chait 13, nine 'high-profile' individuals have been arrested.

Following the first cabinet meeting chaired by Balen Shah, which decided to implement the recommendations of the Gauri Bahadur Karki Commission, Home Minister Gurung summoned IGP Dan Bahadur Karki and Armed Police Force IG Raju Aryal to Singha Durbar to order the arrest of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak. The commission concluded that Oli and Lekhak, along with various officials, were responsible for the suppression of the Gen-Z movement on Bhadra 23.

The heads of the two security organizations briefed Home Minister Gurung on the challenges of arresting them, suggesting that warrants should be obtained from the court first.

However, Home Minister Gurung pressured the security chiefs to issue 'urgent arrest warrants.' He spent the night of Chait 13 at the IGP's residence in Naxal, where IGP Karki and APF IG Aryal were also present.

A senior police officer stated that Home Minister Gurung only left the IGP's residence after a team led by SSPs Hobindra Bogati and Santosh Khadka reached Oli's residence in Bhaktapur with an urgent arrest warrant around 4:30 AM on Chait 14.

The security plan to handle potential challenges during the arrest of the former Prime Minister was approved in Naxal. Gurung made the ministerial decision regarding the arrests while staying in Naxal. After the IGP requested written correspondence, the Home Ministry issued a formal letter to the police. Subsequently, KP Sharma Oli and Ramesh Lekhak were arrested.

Due to health issues, Oli is undergoing treatment at TU Teaching Hospital. Lekhak is being held at the Armed Police Force No. 2 Battalion in Maharajgunj.

A joint bench of Supreme Court judges Binod Sharma and Sunil Kumar Pokharel has ordered that Oli and Lekhak should not be kept in custody after Chait 25.

Chhabi Rijal, who was the Chief District Officer of Kathmandu during the Gen-Z movement, was arrested on the Home Minister's orders. Rijal, arrested on Chait 17, has been released by the police on 'personal recognizance.' Joint Secretary Rijal was released on the condition that he appear when summoned.

Rijal is facing intense criticism for allegedly ordering the firing that killed teenagers in Baneshwor during the Gen-Z movement. Before the Gauri Bahadur Karki-led commission, Rijal testified that he did not order the use of lethal weapons.

On Chait 13, the cabinet made two decisions regarding the implementation of the Karki Commission's recommendations. The first was to form a study committee for security agencies mentioned in the report and act according to its recommendations. The second was to direct relevant bodies to immediately implement the commission's recommendations for others.

Security officials state that Rijal was not investigated due to the interpretation of the cabinet's first decision.

Karn Bahadur Malla, a provincial committee member of the CPN-UML, was arrested on Chait 14. A case of rape had been registered against Malla, who is also a former lawmaker. A young woman from Mugu had filed a rape complaint against Malla at the District Police Range, Lalitpur.

The woman alleges that Malla raped her at a hotel in Balkumari. The District Police Range, Lalitpur, is keeping Malla in custody for investigation.

Under Home Minister Gurung's directive, high-profile individuals are also being arrested for money laundering. Former Minister Deepak Khadka was arrested on Chait 15. The Department of Money Laundering Investigation is probing him.

Khadka is currently at TU Teaching Hospital due to health issues. The investigation into Khadka is ongoing.

Businessman Deepak Bhatta was arrested by the police from Naxal on Chait 19. The Department of Money Laundering Investigation is also probing Bhatta.

Shankar Group Chairman Shankarlal Agrawal was arrested and released. Director General of the Department of Money Laundering Investigation, Gajendra Thakur, told Ratopati that Agrawal, who was arrested on Chait 20, was released after his statement was recorded.

Shankar's son, Sulav Agrawal, has also been arrested. Sulav, a director of the Shankar Group, is currently in the custody of the Department of Money Laundering Investigation.

Rekha Released

Lumbini Provincial Assembly member Rekha Kumari Sharma was arrested on Chait 16. Sharma, who resides in Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu-4, was accused of torturing a minor working in her home and committing child-related offenses.

Previously, the Office of the Attorney General had decided on Jestha 16, 2082, not to prosecute her. On Chait 22, Kathmandu District Court Judge Jagat Bahadur Poudel ordered her release, stating that she did not need to be kept in custody.

Following the order, the police are investigating Sharma while she is out of custody. A team from the Kathmandu Metropolitan City had rescued a minor from MP Sharma's house in Jestha 2081.

When trainee students conducted a survey, it was discovered that the girl had been working at MP Sharma's house for 6 years. The girl stated that she was subjected to physical abuse. The girl revealed that Sharma's family used to beat her with hands and pipes, and she had to perform chores like mopping, cooking, and watering plants.

She complained that she had not been able to meet her family for 6 years and was not allowed to go home even during Dashain.

Beyond high-profile figures, the police have recently arrested 33 gangsters and are investigating them. The police conducted operations on Chait 20 and Chait 21 to arrest the gangsters. SP Pawan Bhattarai of the District Police Range, Kathmandu, said, "33 people involved in gangsterism are currently in custody."

The police have obtained permission from the District Administration Office to investigate them for offenses against public peace. The police are preparing to take the case to court by classifying those previously arrested as 'repeat offenders.'

There is talk that police operations against gangsterism have intensified since Balendra Shah 'Balen', a senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), became Prime Minister. Police officers, however, say they were monitoring the gangsters even before that.

SSP Santosh Khadka of the Valley Crime Investigation Office told Ratopati that many involved in gangsterism have left Kathmandu. He said, "Many of those involved in extortion, intimidation, and acting as middlemen in Kathmandu have fled."

The police claim they are monitoring them.

List of Arrested High-Ranking Officials

• KP Sharma Oli, Chait 14 (Former Prime Minister)
• Ramesh Lekhak, Chait 14 (Former Home Minister)
• Karn Malla, Chait 14 (Former Lawmaker)
• Deepak Khadka, Chait 15 (Former Minister)
• Rekha Sharma, Chait 16 (Provincial MP)
• Chhabi Rijal, Chait 17 (Former CDO of Kathmandu)
• Deepak Bhatta, Chait 19 (Businessman)
• Shankarlal Agrawal, Chait 20 (Chairman of Shankar Group)
• Sulav Agrawal, Chait 22 (Director of Shankar Group)